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Reply Third Year Classes
Potions III ~ Identification Project (Jan 2060)

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addaellis

PostPosted: Mon Jun 21, 2021 12:43 am
ρσтισиѕ ιιι

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Classroom: The Potions classroom is an open space in the dungeons. Large tables are arranged so that students can work comfortably in pairs or fours around, with ample walkway room between tables. The front of the classroom is a wall with a large chalkboard with the professor’s desk off to the side. A wide corner nook to the left of the room has a demonstration table, with access to common ingredients and potions supplies, with access to the potions storeroom just beyond. In the corner is a basin into which ice-cold, purified water pours from a gargoyle's mouth. There are cubbies near the door for bags and belongings, where a student can step aside to grab a snack if needed. A bookshelf near the cubbies contains copies of the textbook but also research journals and other potions and herbology manuals.

Classes are Monday and Wednesday during Block 6 (15:00 - 16:00) (3pm- 4pm)

Office Hours: MWF 16 - 19:00 (4-7 pm) or weekends by appointment in Verine’s office on the dungeon floor.

Third Year Curriculum
[ ] Shrinking Solution
[ ] Antidotes
[ ] Undetectable Poisons

Notes for Roleplayers
This thread is also being used as a test for different ways of running classes. Thus I will rarely actually follow the curriculum as listed on the List of Knowledge for scenes, but please assume these potions are all taught at some point in the year. Thank you for your patience.
 
PostPosted: Mon Jun 21, 2021 12:48 am
тнιя∂ уєαя ℓєαяиιиg σвנє¢тινєѕ


  • Potions Safety: Third years understand techniques for safely testing mysterious potions and understand common side effects of potions and combining potions.
  • Fundamental techniques and potions: Third years can accurately calculate proportions for potions adjustments and simple dilutions and neutralizations; they can competently perform potions techniques like mashing evenly, stir smoothly, cut into even pieces. (Critical Potions: Forgetfulness Potion, Antidote to Uncommon Poisons)
  • Potions Theory: Third years understand how different properties of herbs interact, common neutralizers to produce potions effects. They understand how techniques like titrations and litmus tests can help determine the amount of an active ingredient in a mysterious potion. They also know simple substitutions.


ρσтισиѕ ℓαв gυι∂єℓιиєѕ

  • Place your bag in the cubbies at the back. It’s fine to step aside for a drink or snack, but no snacks at the brewing stations, especially not while potions are being brewed.
  • Please come prepared with all your materials and equipment.
  • While brewing, wear protective clothing-- close-toed shoes are a must, tie long hair back, etc.
  • While brewing, take notes on everything.
  • Label all completed potions: Include the potion name, potioneers’ name(s), and date completed.
  • Exam days you are allowed a single index card (provided) of notes. Any complex procedures will be provided.
  • Do not plagiarize anything (not on notes, homework, or exams). You can always ask for more time on exams.
  • Ask questions!



нσω ¢ℓαѕѕєѕ яυи

Verine is a very serious professor when fires are lit and active ingredients are on the tables; otherwise, she is very lax. She keeps class pretty friendly and light– questions are encouraged during any lecture or presentation or demo. She’ll spice up the serious potions with fun potions to hone technique. She is easily distracted in that a student can get her to rant on theory with simple questions, but is always focused on the realm of potions.

Third years are asked to look up a lot of the background information and procedure with specific, bite-sized prompts guiding them for homework. Class time is split pretty evenly: Mondays are theory discussion days, Wednesdays are practical days where they’re either practicing something or reviewing a potion previously brewed.

Almost every brewing assignment is done in pairs or small groups. Exams are individual with only a notecard of notes allowed–like everything else in her class, exams tend to be challenging/ difficult/complicated but straightforward–no trick questions. Review days she tries to do something fun. (Actually most days she tries to inject something exciting in.)

Homework can be turned in for full credit as long as it is submitted before the final exam of the semester. It usually includes:

  • Prompts of worksheets requiring students to look something a method or recipe in the textbook or library. (background weeks)
  • A write up of whatever notes from that day (lecture days) or report and reflection on the brewing process (brewing days)
  • There is always recommended reading, but most is content covered in lectures.
 

addaellis


addaellis

PostPosted: Mon Jun 21, 2021 1:11 am

User Image✽❃
VERINE YSEULT WINCHESTER

51 years || Ravenclaw Alumna || halfblood
Potioneer and Potions Professor
_______________

Verine took a deep breath. Potions I and II seemed to have gone okay thus far. She didn’t think she’d irreparably destroyed anyone’s interest in potions yet, anyways. There was just the third years now.

As far as she knew, the last few Potions 1-3 professors before Verine had only been around for a year each. The latest before her had been an old potions mistress who had sworn by a method involving lots of lecture, lots of homework, and a heavy emphasis on memorizing procedures.

Then Verine had come along last year with almost an exact opposite approach: Last year, Verine had treated her class much like she had tutoring for her potioneer assistants before: she left a loose and open environment, assigned a few potions for them to work on, answered questions, offered substitutions from her own experience, and guided them towards entirely too complex papers as needed. There was rarely homework other than a bit of recommended reading, and exams were few and far too difficult, as they were sourced from previous years. “Be their friend” had been a big guiding principle in Verine’s teaching philosophy. But that lassaize-faire style didn’t seem to be very effective at actual instruction.

Verine had spent the summer agonizing over a better way to do things, and with insights from her husband, her daughter and nephew, and most importantly Professor Whitethorne, she’d come up with hopefully better ideas.

“Good afternoon!” Verine started at just past 15:03 with a friendly smile. “Welcome back to Potions III.

“Now I understand last year was a bit of a turn-face from your first year of potions. Hopefully this year will be a little more structured so you are well introduced to the art and fundamentals of potions that you will need for Professor Whitethorne’s class. This way, starting fourth year you'll be well prepared to understand and make more practical and effective potions.”
She held up a thin sheaf of papers. ”To that end, please consider this not an exam, but a map for what we still need to cover."

With a gentle waved of her wand, the papers flew off, settling in front of each student. Hopefully none of the students hated her. For last year...or for a pop quiz on the first day of class. "Oh! Not to worry, you'll get full credit for turning it in." she added sheepishly.

✽❃✽❃✽❃


Pre-assessment (You can simply describe how they do! The assessment contains questions ranging from Potions 1-4 and a few randomly hard ones so just a brief description is fine.)
  • Questions about potions safety (e.g. Why do you need close-toed shoes in a potions laboratory?)
  • Questions about common uses of potions equipment. (e.g. What is the use of a mortar and pestle?)
  • Describe the effects and uses of [common potions for levels 1-3] (e.g. What does Wiggenweld Potion and how is it used?)
  • A few questions about herb and ingredient properties (ranging from common ingredients to more advanced) (e.g. What is dittany and what does it do?/ Label all the parts of this valerian and describe the common properties of each part)
  • A few questions asking about ingredient substitutions (probably not common knowledge at this level) (e.g. What is a possible substitution for valerian root in most sleeping potions?)
  • A few calculation questions (e.g. “If you want to double the amount of forgetfulness potion, how much of each ingredient should you prepare? (Forgetfulness potion recipe provided))


_______________

setting Potions 3, Fall 2053 || with Third Years
appearance 5'7", 140 lbs || wearing Something from here
status Fresh minds, fresh start!

_______________
//OOC: Potions is now OPEN for 2053. A second class will be posted sometime on the weekend of July 10th-11th.
”QUOTING”


_______________


User ImageUser ImageUser Image

Far off in the distance
A fire comes to life
A flicker of a flame breaks through the dark
Burning soft and bright
Dancing with the light
Awakening the Heavens and the Earth
❃✽
"Awakening" by Celtic Woman
 
PostPosted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 4:45 pm
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.
"Mattie"Matilda Rose Harper
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
xxxxxxxxx<Gryffindor 3rd Year> <Muggleborn> <Little Sister> <Fighter and Dreamer><Dueling Club, Fite Club, and Music Club Member><Budding Artist of the Sword><Reserve Beater>
Location: Potions Classroom
Wearing: her uniform with black tights and a pair of combat boots
------------------------------------------------------------------------xx


                                                Matilda Rose Harper was NOT in a good mood today.

                                                She was not sure when her irritability reared its nasty head but it was obviously before she yelled at two second years holding hands and blocking her way to class. She had shouted, "You're twelve, it's not love. Stop blocking the way." Nevermind she was only a year older than them she wasn't the idiots blocking everyone's paths.

                                                Maybe it was breakfast. Or maybe she woke up that way. All she knew is she really would like to punch something... or someone.

                                                And here she was in one of her least favorite classes. Partially the hatred stemmed from the fact she sucked in it. Partially was the professor seemed erratic and sucked. As Professor Winchester greeted them she admitted she sucked. Great even she knew. Might have helped Mattie's grade if she figured that out say last year. Mattie by some miracle managed to refrain from slamming her head on the table when Professor Winchester cheerfully introduced a pop quiz. She said just turning it in gave them full credit but she didn't trust the flaky potions professor.

                                                Mattie breezed through potions safety (common sense really), stumbled a few times on common uses of potions equipment, was vague in effects and uses of common potions, fell on her face a few times about herbs and ingredients (who cares? can't you just look this up as you go?), scribbled wrong answers about ingredient substitutions, and half managed the calculation questions. In the end it was clear she would barely scrape an A in most exams. Again, Mattie chose to blame Professor Winchester for this. It was her job to make sure they did well, right?

                                                ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                𝐼 𝓇𝑒𝓅𝓁𝒶𝓎 𝓂𝓎 𝒻𝑜𝑜𝓉𝓈𝓉𝑒𝓅𝓈 𝑜𝓃 𝑒𝒶𝒸𝒽 𝓈𝓉𝑒𝓅𝓅𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓈𝓉𝑜𝓃𝑒
                                                𝒯𝓇𝓎𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝑜 𝒻𝒾𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝓌𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝐼 𝓌𝑒𝓃𝓉 𝓌𝓇𝑜𝓃𝑔

                                                User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.

                                                The Professor set the hat down carefully on the student's head. For a moment the hat was silent before speaking....
                                                Freedom? Freedom is quite a big thing to ask for, dear
                                                I find you have to learn to grasp it yourself
                                                Rarely is it simply given
                                                Perhaps you'll find your own way in

                                                Gryffindor!
                                                {OoC: Sorry for Irritable Mattie - She should be held responsible for her fuss.}
                                                Quote:

                                                Quote:

                                                Quote:


 

mc2

Shameless Sex Symbol

21,090 Points
  • Deal Me In 50
  • Married 100
  • Person of Interest 200

addaellis

PostPosted: Sat Jul 10, 2021 10:24 pm

User Image✽❃
VERINE YSEULT WINCHESTER

51 years || Ravenclaw Alumna || halfblood
Potioneer and Potions Professor
_______________

Verine had done her best to be more structured: her lectures tended to be closer to rants about a topic, but it was a far cry from the do-what-you-will style she had the previous year. She was fairly confident in this group to safely do most procedures and use the equipment correctly, and the bulk of the last few months had been a careful examination of potions properties and how they interacted to form a potion. Eventually they had settled into a kind of routine: Mondays was usually a discussion of potions theory: how materials worked together and interacted, how some ingredients could be used instead of others, how to appropriately calculate how much ingredient was needed if editing a recipe. Wednesdays were practical days: sometimes the third years were free to practice brewing something, other times they worked on honing a particular potion making technique.

For example, one Monday someone had asked a question that led to a an entire 45 minute lecture rant on how waving the wand at the end of a potion was not just a casual wave but involved a mental and magical process of knitting all the ingredients together and improved obviously with a greater understanding of the particular potions theory-- not that a casual wave wouldn’t work in most cases, but that it really was just sucking half the magic out of potions and leaving so much to chance. The following Wednesday had been a full day of just practicing said mental knitting processes on nearly-complete potions, along with other commonly used spells--carefully controlled flames of different temperatures, cleaning vials and spills, a few failed attempts at a water purifying spell.

When the third years walked into Potions the first afternoon back from Winter Break, the large student tables were a mess. Scattered ingredients, partially burned notes, torn observations, and incomplete potions set a different scene at each table.

”Come in, come in! Please, put your bags in the cubbies and gather around. We have a special activity today.”

Over the winter break, Verine’s nephew August had been working on a short mystery story about a thief. August had at one point borrowed the living space coffee table to set the crime scene: he’d spent the entire day arranging the space, taking notes, adding clues, removing them, rearranging them. Verine had watched him curiously, and before the start of the semester had gotten his help setting up a few “accident scenes” of her own.

At just past nine, Verine started to explain the activity set out before them. ”Good morning and welcome back! Over the last semester we’ve discussed quite a few potions, how their ingredients work together, and how to handle them safely,” she started. ”Let’s put this into a very practical test. Before you, you see different scenes of potions ‘accidents’. Today, you and your group will try to determine what happened in each of these scenes. What was the original potioneer trying to brew? What went wrong? What would it take to fix the potion?

“By the end of the block, you should know enough about the scene to clean it up safely. This involves neutralizing whatever is left in the cauldron, and sorting out any raw ingredients.”
Verine gestured to the equipment laid out on the demonstration table: vials, a few small clear bags, and a collection of simple common ingredients. ”You might want to run a few tests to determine what things are. When gathering samples please be very careful and remember all the safety guidelines!

”On Wednesday, you and your partner will discuss the questions and make the potion correctly! We’ll discuss your thought processes next week. I’ll want to see your observations and thought processes, and your group should be ready to present your findings.”
Verine glanced around for questions, making sure to clarify everything before setting them off: ”No more than three to a scene please!”

Verine herself made her way from table to table, quietly observing their efforts. She wasn’t sure if this would be too easy a task-- this was the same challenge the second years had, but where the second years had a whole week and groups of four or five, there would only be two or three to a group here and they would only have two days of class time. Maybe the time pressure would be enough of a challenge.

board

Investigate the scene!

You have four goals:
1. Determine what potion was being brewed.
2. How did the potioneer mess up? What would it take to fix the potion?
3. Safely neutralize and dispose of all potions by the end of class Monday.
4. Brew the potion correctly.

Each group should submit the following by the following Monday:

  • An organized paper with your observations, what steps you took, your disposal process, and your thought processes for identifying and fixing the solution.
    (Please remember to include the Scene number and name all group members on the paper)
  • The correctly brewed potion (Wednesday)
  • Be ready to present and discuss your potion and scenario on Monday!


Possible potions:

  • Babbling Beverage
  • Boils Cure
  • Forgetfulness Potion
  • Girding Potion
  • Hair Raising Potion
  • Swelling Solution
  • Wiggenweld Potion
  • Volumbilis Potion



SCENE 1

The scene contains a disarray of materials and burnt notes. There are two model cauldrons, one overturned over a sopping mess of water and mushy slugs, and the other one half melted through, with green sludge pouring out of it. A pile of crushed materials sits in a mortar, along with a pile of dried leaves and a bottle of slightly green slime.

From the scraps of burnt notes, you can make out that the last successfully completed steps were waving the wand, and adding four measures of h̷̶̘̘̬ͭ̏͞͡o҉̢̡̲͇̌͗̀͢͝r҉̵҉̛̠̩̥̋ͦ̆͆͟͞͡͞͠n̸͐̈́͟͟͝e̵̡̫̫͍͕̎ͭ̐͟͟͝͞d҉̴̷̧̢̛̖͔̤ͯ̔̑̄͢͟͡͠ s҉̝̭̦͚̑ͯ̌͡l̶҉̰͚͖͕̍̈́̅͗̏̇͢͜͜͝u̶͖̖͆̊̈́͡͡g̷̵̸̡̼̱͎͎̞ͤͬ̅͢͟͞s҉̝̭̦͚̑ͯ̌͡”. An attentive student or someone familiar with herbology could identify that the dried leaves are dried nettles and someone familiar with magical creatures could guess that the green slime is flobberworm mucus.


SCENE 2

The scene seems fairly innocent: the primary cauldron is intact, and the potion is clear and odorless. There is a lump of something squishy at the bottom of the potion. A second cauldron was used to stew slugs in. There are a few leaves with a strong minty smell left in a bowl. An empty vial smelling vaguely of honey is next to an unopened vial of milky blue syrup with “CAUTION, DO NOT CONSUME RAW” on it.

The notes are simply a list of colors, some marked off:

  • red
  • green
  • pink
  • orange
  • green
  • blue
  • pink
  • orange
  • turquoise
  • red
  • yellow


Upon closer inspection, while the potion on the inside of the potion is clear and odorless, the splashes and stains around the cauldron are pink and smell vaguely of mint and honey. An attentive student or someone very familiar with herbology and ingredients extracted from herbs could recognize that the blue syrup is Syrup of Hellebore.


SCENE 3

The scene has a single model cauldron with a singed-smelling, hardened black paste inside it. Small bean-like litter the station and lightly toasted insect bodies are scattered around. The only ingredient that seems to be organized is an unopened jar.

Under the mess, the only discernible notes seem to indicate that the potion was only just started and there were only three ingredients gathered. Closer examination of the paste in the cauldron indicates that there is a toasted dragonfly thorax that was thrown in before the potion went horridly awry.

An attentive student or someone familiar with magical creatures would be able to identify the “beans” are doxy eggs and the insect bodies are dragonfly thoraxes, both toasted and untoasted. Careful observation of the contents of the unopened jar shows that they are preserved flying seahorses.


SCENE 4

The scene is relatively unmessy, as it seems everything has been added to the cauldron: the model cauldron is nearly full of a goopy red liquid that smells rusty and metallic. Someone who pokes the mush with a stick or shifts the cauldron might notice that the potion seems stuck to the walls of the cauldron in burnt clumps.

Brown splatters, clear-green splatters, clear-yellow stains, and black splotches make a mess of the notes. The materials used in the potion are intact but scrawled and smeared in messy handwriting:

  • s҉̝̭̦͚̑ͯ̌͡a҉͖̟̜̞̂̃̑̽͢͢͠͡l̶҉̰͚͖͕̍̈́̅͗̏̇͢͜͜͝a҉͖̟̜̞̂̃̑̽͢͢͠͡m̴̵҉̸̲̗̰̼͗͌̃̇͟͟͟͠͞͠a҉͖̟̜̞̂̃̑̽͢͢͠͡n̸͐̈́͟͟͝d҉̴̷̧̢̛̖͔̤ͯ̔̑̄͢͟͡͠e̵̡̫̫͍͕̎ͭ̐͟͟͝͞r҉̵҉̛̠̩̥̋ͦ̆͆͟͞͡͞͠ b҉͙̺̻̥̅̎͋̕͜͝͡͞͠l̶҉̰͚͖͕̍̈́̅͗̏̇͢͜͜͝o҉̢̡̲͇̌͗̀͢͝o҉̢̡̲͇̌͗̀͢͝d҉̴̷̧̢̛̖͔̤ͯ̔̑̄͢͟͡͠
  • l̶҉̰͚͖͕̍̈́̅͗̏̇͢͜͜͝i҉̧̯̤̙͔̑ͧ̅̔ͦ́͜͟͢͝͠o҉̢̡̲͇̌͗̀͢͝n̸͐̈́͟͟͝f҉̴̥͎̰̰̒͌͛͐ͧ̕͜͝͡͞i҉̧̯̤̙͔̑ͧ̅̔ͦ́͜͟͢͝͠s҉̝̭̦͚̑ͯ̌͡h̷̶̘̘̬ͭ̏͞͡ s҉̝̭̦͚̑ͯ̌͡p̷̸̷̨͙͙͇ͨ̌ͣ͋͟͢͠i҉̧̯̤̙͔̑ͧ̅̔ͦ́͜͟͢͝͠n̸͐̈́͟͟͝e̵̡̫̫͍͕̎ͭ̐͟͟͝͞s҉̝̭̦̑ͯ̌͡
  • f҉̴̥͎̰̰̒͌͛͐ͧ̕͜͝͡͞l̶҉̰͚͖͕̍̈́̅͗̏̇͢͜͜͝o҉̢̡̲͇̌͗̀͢͝b҉͙̺̻̥̅̎͋̕͜͝͡͞͠b҉͙̺̻̥̅̎͋̕͜͝͡͞͠e̵̡̫̫͍͕̎ͭ̐͟͟͝͞r҉̵҉̛̠̩̥̋ͦ̆͆͟͞͡͞͠w҉̢̡̹̮͌̄ͦ͜͟͟͞͠͞o҉̢̡̲͇̌͗̀͢͝r҉̵҉̛̠̩̥̋ͦ̆͆͟͞͡͞͠m̴̵҉̸̲̗̰̼͗͌̃̇͟͟͟͠͞͠ m̴̵҉̸̲̗̰̼͗͌̃̇͟͟͟͠͞͠u̶͖̖͆̊̈́͡͡c̷̶҉̵̢͚̣̻̲̬͑̑͛͐̀͜͜͜͝͡͝͠u̶͖̖͆̊̈́͡͡s҉̝̭̦͚̑ͯ̌͡
  • h̷̶̘̘̬ͭ̏͞͡o҉̢̡̲͇̌͗̀͢͝n̸͐̈́͟͟͝e̵̡̫̫͍͕̎ͭ̐͟͟͝͞ȳ̸̵̩̜͔͍̔́͟͟͢͡w҉̢̡̹̮͌̄ͦ͜͟͟͞͠͞a҉͖̟̜̞̂̃̑̽͢͢͠͡t҉̷҉̢͖͔̹͛̌͊͘͜͢͠͡͡e̵̡̫̫͍͕̎ͭ̐͟͟͝͞r҉̵҉̛̠̩̥̋ͦ̆͆͟͞͡͞͠


Alternatively, a meticulous and attentive student might identify that the brown splatters and the metallic smell indicate blood. Given the smell, some kind of blood is one of the primary ingredients. The clear-green splatters are slime or mucus; the clear-yellow stains smell vaguely of honey; and the black splotches are simply smeared ink.


_______________

setting Potions 3, January 2054 || with Third Years
appearance 5'7", 140 lbs || wearing Something from here
status Hopefully this is a fun mystery!

_______________
//OOC: Second thing for potions II! This space will be for group interactions for now. I'll switch it to presentations in August if there is participation.
”QUOTING”


_______________


User ImageUser ImageUser Image

Far off in the distance
A fire comes to life
A flicker of a flame breaks through the dark
Burning soft and bright
Dancing with the light
Awakening the Heavens and the Earth
❃✽
"Awakening" by Celtic Woman
 
PostPosted: Sat Mar 18, 2023 2:56 am

User Image✽❃
VERINE YSEULT WINCHESTER

57 years || Ravenclaw alumna || halfblood
Potioneer and Potions Professor
_______________

When the third years walked into Potions the first afternoon back from Winter Break, the large student tables were a mess. Scattered ingredients, partially burned notes, torn observations, and incomplete potions set a different scene at each table.

”Come in, come in! Please, put your bags in the cubbies and gather around. We have a special activity today.”

One winter break, Verine’s nephew August had been working on a short mystery story about a thief. August had at one point borrowed the living space coffee table to set the crime scene: he’d spent the entire day arranging the space, taking notes, adding clues, removing them, rearranging them. Verine had watched him curiously, and before the start of the semester had gotten his help setting up a few “accident scenes” of her own–now, it was almost a staple that the first class back from winter break was this Identification project.

At just past nine, Verine started to explain the activity set out before them. ”Good morning and welcome back! Over the last semester we’ve discussed quite a few potions, how their ingredients work together, and how to handle them safely,” she started. ”Let’s put this into a very practical test. Before you, you see different scenes of potions ‘accidents’. Today, you and your group will try to determine what happened in each of these scenes. What was the original potioneer trying to brew? What went wrong? What would it take to fix the potion?

“By the end of the block, you should know enough about the scene to clean it up safely. This involves neutralizing whatever is left in the cauldron, and sorting out any raw ingredients.”
Verine gestured to the equipment laid out on the demonstration table: vials, a few small clear bags, and a collection of simple common ingredients. ”You might want to run a few tests to determine what things are. When gathering samples please be very careful and remember all the safety guidelines!

”On Wednesday, you and your partner will discuss the questions and make the potion correctly! We’ll discuss your thought processes next week. I’ll want to see your observations and thought processes, and your group should be ready to present your findings in a brief 2-3 minute discussion.”
Verine glanced around for questions, making sure to clarify everything before setting them off: ”No more than three to a scene please!”

Verine herself made her way from table to table, quietly observing their efforts. Usually the first third hour was chaos as students examined their scenes. Then came the third of contemplation as they pondered the puzzle and flipped thorough notes and texts in search of a clue. Occasionally, an exclaimed “oh! What if…?!” Punctured their contemplation, followed by either frustrated discussion or ecstatic glee. By the time Verine called the last 10-15 minutes, one of the group would usually go into a frenzy of writing down all their notes and thoughts down while the other two did their best to clean the mess with whatever knowledge they had.

board

Investigate the scene!

You have four goals:
1. Determine what potion was being brewed.
2. How did the potioneer mess up? What would it take to fix the potion?
3. Safely neutralize and dispose of all potions by the end of class Monday.
4. Brew the potion correctly.

Each group should submit the following by the following Monday:

  • An organized paper with your observations, what steps you took, your disposal process, and your thought processes for identifying and fixing the solution.
    (Please remember to include the Scene number and name all group members on the paper)
  • The correctly brewed potion (Wednesday)
  • Be ready to present and discuss your potion and scenario on Monday!


Possible potions:

  • Babbling Beverage
  • Boils Cure
  • Forgetfulness Potion
  • Girding Potion
  • Hair Raising Potion
  • Swelling Solution
  • Wiggenweld Potion
  • Volumbilis Potion




SCENE 1

The scene contains a disarray of materials and burnt notes. There are two model cauldrons, one overturned over a sopping mess of water and mushy slugs, and the other one half melted through, with green sludge pouring out of it. A pile of crushed materials sits in a mortar, along with a pile of dried leaves and a bottle of slightly green slime.

From the scraps of burnt notes, you can make out that the last successfully completed steps were waving the wand, and adding four measures of h̷̶̘̘̬ͭ̏͞͡o҉̢̡̲͇̌͗̀͢͝r҉̵҉̛̠̩̥̋ͦ̆͆͟͞͡͞͠n̸͐̈́͟͟͝e̵̡̫̫͍͕̎ͭ̐͟͟͝͞d҉̴̷̧̢̛̖͔̤ͯ̔̑̄͢͟͡͠ s҉̝̭̦͚̑ͯ̌͡l̶҉̰͚͖͕̍̈́̅͗̏̇͢͜͜͝u̶͖̖͆̊̈́͡͡g̷̵̸̡̼̱͎͎̞ͤͬ̅͢͟͞s҉̝̭̦͚̑ͯ̌͡”. An attentive student or in either potions or herbology could identify that the dried leaves are dried nettles and someone familiar with magical creatures could guess that the green slime is flobberworm mucus.



SCENE 2

The scene seems fairly innocent: the primary cauldron is intact, and the potion is clear and odorless. There is a lump of something squishy at the bottom of the potion. A second cauldron contains stewed slugs. There are a few leaves with a strong minty smell left in a bowl and an overturned pot. An empty vial smelling vaguely of honey is next to an unopened vial of milky blue syrup with “CAUTION, DO NOT CONSUME RAW” on it.

The notes are simply a list of colors, some marked off:

  • red
  • green
  • pink
  • orange
  • green
  • blue
  • pink
  • orange
  • turquoise
  • red
  • yellow


Upon closer inspection, while the potion on the inside of the potion is clear and odorless, the splashes and stains around the cauldron are pink and smell vaguely of mint and honey, indicating mint leaves and honey water, clearly. An attentive student or someone very familiar with herbology and ingredients extracted from herbs could recognize that the blue syrup is Syrup of Hellebore and the overturned pot used to house a mandrake. If the students fish out the lump in the cauldron, they will find an immature mandrake that clearly has not been processed (stewed, cut up) in any way. After some deduction, the students can reason that the addition of this last ingredient [/white] caused the potion to go wrong.


SCENE 3

The scene has a single model cauldron with a singed-smelling, hardened black paste inside it. Small beans litter the station and lightly toasted insect bodies are scattered around. The only ingredient that seems to be organized is an unopened jar.

Under the mess, the only discernible notes seem to indicate that the potion was only just started and there were only three ingredients gathered. Closer examination of the paste in the cauldron indicates that there is a toasted dragonfly thorax that was thrown in before the potion went horridly awry.

An attentive student or someone familiar with magical creatures would be able to identify the “beans” are doxy eggs and the insect bodies are dragonfly thoraxes, both toasted and untoasted. Careful observation of the contents of the unopened jar shows that they are preserved flying seahorses.


SCENE 4

The scene is relatively unmessy, as it seems everything has been added to the cauldron: the model cauldron is nearly full of a goopy red liquid that smells rusty and metallic. Someone who pokes the mush with a stick or shifts the cauldron might notice that the potion seems stuck to the walls of the cauldron in burnt clumps.

Brown splatters, clear-green splatters, clear-yellow stains, and black splotches make a mess of the notes. The materials used in the potion are intact but scrawled and smeared in messy handwriting:

  • s҉̝̭̦͚̑ͯ̌͡a҉͖̟̜̞̂̃̑̽͢͢͠͡l̶҉̰͚͖͕̍̈́̅͗̏̇͢͜͜͝a҉͖̟̜̞̂̃̑̽͢͢͠͡m̴̵҉̸̲̗̰̼͗͌̃̇͟͟͟͠͞͠a҉͖̟̜̞̂̃̑̽͢͢͠͡n̸͐̈́͟͟͝d҉̴̷̧̢̛̖͔̤ͯ̔̑̄͢͟͡͠e̵̡̫̫͍͕̎ͭ̐͟͟͝͞r҉̵҉̛̠̩̥̋ͦ̆͆͟͞͡͞͠ b҉͙̺̻̥̅̎͋̕͜͝͡͞͠l̶҉̰͚͖͕̍̈́̅͗̏̇͢͜͜͝o҉̢̡̲͇̌͗̀͢͝o҉̢̡̲͇̌͗̀͢͝d҉̴̷̧̢̛̖͔̤ͯ̔̑̄͢͟͡͠
  • l̶҉̰͚͖͕̍̈́̅͗̏̇͢͜͜͝i҉̧̯̤̙͔̑ͧ̅̔ͦ́͜͟͢͝͠o҉̢̡̲͇̌͗̀͢͝n̸͐̈́͟͟͝f҉̴̥͎̰̰̒͌͛͐ͧ̕͜͝͡͞i҉̧̯̤̙͔̑ͧ̅̔ͦ́͜͟͢͝͠s҉̝̭̦͚̑ͯ̌͡h̷̶̘̘̬ͭ̏͞͡ s҉̝̭̦͚̑ͯ̌͡p̷̸̷̨͙͙͇ͨ̌ͣ͋͟͢͠i҉̧̯̤̙͔̑ͧ̅̔ͦ́͜͟͢͝͠n̸͐̈́͟͟͝e̵̡̫̫͍͕̎ͭ̐͟͟͝͞s҉̝̭̦̑ͯ̌͡
  • f҉̴̥͎̰̰̒͌͛͐ͧ̕͜͝͡͞l̶҉̰͚͖͕̍̈́̅͗̏̇͢͜͜͝o҉̢̡̲͇̌͗̀͢͝b҉͙̺̻̥̅̎͋̕͜͝͡͞͠b҉͙̺̻̥̅̎͋̕͜͝͡͞͠e̵̡̫̫͍͕̎ͭ̐͟͟͝͞r҉̵҉̛̠̩̥̋ͦ̆͆͟͞͡͞͠w҉̢̡̹̮͌̄ͦ͜͟͟͞͠͞o҉̢̡̲͇̌͗̀͢͝r҉̵҉̛̠̩̥̋ͦ̆͆͟͞͡͞͠m̴̵҉̸̲̗̰̼͗͌̃̇͟͟͟͠͞͠ m̴̵҉̸̲̗̰̼͗͌̃̇͟͟͟͠͞͠u̶͖̖͆̊̈́͡͡c̷̶҉̵̢͚̣̻̲̬͑̑͛͐̀͜͜͜͝͡͝͠u̶͖̖͆̊̈́͡͡s҉̝̭̦͚̑ͯ̌͡
  • h̷̶̘̘̬ͭ̏͞͡o҉̢̡̲͇̌͗̀͢͝n̸͐̈́͟͟͝e̵̡̫̫͍͕̎ͭ̐͟͟͝͞ȳ̸̵̩̜͔͍̔́͟͟͢͡w҉̢̡̹̮͌̄ͦ͜͟͟͞͠͞a҉͖̟̜̞̂̃̑̽͢͢͠͡t҉̷҉̢͖͔̹͛̌͊͘͜͢͠͡͡e̵̡̫̫͍͕̎ͭ̐͟͟͝͞r҉̵҉̛̠̩̥̋ͦ̆͆͟͞͡͞͠


Alternatively, a meticulous and attentive student might identify that the brown splatters and the metallic smell indicate blood. Given the smell, some kind of blood is one of the primary ingredients. The clear-green splatters are slime or mucus, likely flobberworm mucus; the clear-yellow stains smell vaguely of honey, likely honey water; and the black splotches are simply smeared ink. With some deduction and observation, it is clear overheating was likely the mistake.


_______________

setting Potions Classroom, First Wednesday back from Winter Break in January 2059 || with Third years
appearance 5'7", slender || wearing something from her closet
status Hopefully this is fun!

_______________
//OOC: Potions 1 for 2058 year is OPEN. I tried to pick all potions for which either the guild or fandom.wiki has a complete procedure. I'm happy to provide OOC clues if you're genuinely interested in solving these, or just give you the answer if you're just trying to write your character making a genius deduction.
”QUOTING”


_______________


User ImageUser ImageUser Image
I am the voice of the past that will always be
Filled with my sorrow and blood in my fields
I am the voice of the future, bring me your peace
Bring me your peace, and my wounds, they will heal
✽❃
"The Voice" by Celtic Woman
 

addaellis

addaellis rolled 1 4-sided dice: 3 Total: 3 (1-4)

addaellis

PostPosted: Sat Mar 25, 2023 4:13 pm

User Image🦜🎹
AURAIS FLINT AURELIUS

third year || Ravenclaw || pureblood
Language club mute || Fencing club whack
occasional attendee of Music Club and Order of the Stick

_______________

“Luci, Luci, I love Luci” Astyth chirped as they arrived in Potions–she had been chirping it excitedly all morning, evidently very pleased with her little joke. But after Herbology, History, DADA, and Transfiguration, it was starting to get a bit much. It wasn’t Aurais’s first time seeing Lucian that day, but they’d found themselves on opposite sides of the classroom or without opportunity to chat all day. So when they arrived at Potions, Aurais stowed his bag and beelined for his Slytherin friend. He held his hand out for Astyth to perch, and offered the bird in front of Lucian. Astyth puffed her feathers out and fluttered her wings. “Luci, Luci, I love Luci”

Aurais himself gave no other input but to stare at the mess at the table. He signed a quick symbol and Astyth translated: “What What? What’s this?”

Professor Winchester started class cheerfully, explaining these were setups and their assignment was to figure out what was going on and do it right. Aurais cracked his knuckles with excitement. A puzzle! He loved that. He jotted down the assignment in a notebook as she spoke. As soon as Professor Winchester turned them loose, Aurais pulled on his gloves and turned towards Lucian and their third groupmate, eager to get started.

He peered inside the cauldron, but didn’t find anything immediately telling from the black sludge. He gently dusted the beans, only noticing one was a crunchy looking insect when Astyth popped down his arm, opening her mouth. He signed no, then drew the others’ attention to the toasted insect. Aurais glanced at the notes and passed them around– making sure everyone had all the clues available.

As soon as someone spoke to offer suggestions or observations, he’d take note, assigning himself as scribe for their group.



_______________

setting Potions, first day back January 2059 || with Lucian and [Third groupmate insert yourself]
appearance 5’1”, spindly || wearing uniform
status I love puzzles.
Astyth status I'm such a clever bird

_______________
//OOC: ----
Trickblues


_______________


User ImageUser ImageUser Image
And I slept on the ocean last night
I could see you all, and you all were dancing sideways
Your feet stuck to the skies
And I could see the airplanes dance behind your eyes
And I was glad I found the time
🎹🦜
"Along the Road" by Radical Face.
 
PostPosted: Sat Mar 25, 2023 7:00 pm
User Image
You’re looking straight into the clouds now
And smiling at the rain that falls
You turn to me and whisper that the storm will wash away all of the pain

User Image

Halfblood | Metamorphmagus | Third Year Slytherin | Fourteen Years Old
Culinary Club | Fite Club
January 2059, first day back Potions With: Aurais and [Third Groupmate]
Wearing: School Robes Status: "Maybe I can find another opportunity to sign at him." / Potion Puzzles

═══════════════════XXXX═══════════════════


                                                        Astyth had been chirping something all day, but Lucian couldn’t make it out given the unexpected distance he’d somehow been managing from Aurais all day. It was just one of those days; one thing led to another and prevented the two of them a chance to catch up after the agonizingly long winter break. It was a shame, too. Most of Luci’s days were spent in his favorite book shop in Cardiff, studying any sign language book Cady could scrounge up for him. He had been looking forward to showing Aurais what he could manage, but it seemed the day was against them.

                                                        If it was, that sure didn’t stop Aurais. Lucian was already in his seat, digging his book from his bag when he noticed his friend and feathered companion approaching him. “Oh, hi!” He sat his book on the desk with a thump. Just as Lucian was about to sign ‘Good morning, how was your break?’ like he practiced last night, Astyth fluttered and beat him to the punch.

                                                        “Luci, Luci, I love Luci”

                                                        Lucian’s eyebrows shot up into long bangs that were suddenly more teal than they’d been before, caught by surprise at the exclamation. He blinked, stunned for a moment, before smiling warmly and scratching the soft feathers behind her ear with his finger. As he did, his soft locks paled back to their regular aqua hue. “I missed you too, Astyth.”

                                                        Aurais made a gesture with his hands then, to which Lucian paid close attention. It was simple enough, a finger brushed over the palm, and then a Y against it, but he didn’t know what it meant. Astyth translated, What’s this?, and he took a mental note of it before following Aurais’s line of vision to the scene before them: a disaster zone from the looks of it.

                                                        There wasn’t time to talk further before Professor Winchester started up class, chipper as ever while she explained their assignment: Solve the mystery of what went wrong with the potion. Her assignments were always so creative. At this time of the afternoon, when most kids' brains were starting to tune out for the day, Lucian really appreciated that Potions always kept him sharp. As his small group banded together, Luci gloved up and took a closer look at the scene.

                                                        Their potion was burnt, no doubt about that. It was practically tar, with small beans littered over the table. Luci picked up the singular unopened jar. “Flying seahorses…” He noted aloud. Out of the corner of his eye Aurais drew his attention to the toasted insect. Lucian picked one up, brow furrowed as he examined it. “It’s hard to tell what it is when they’re toasted like this… Is it a cricket? No, I don’t think there’s a head… What do you make of it?” He asked, to neither companion in particular.


                                                        ════════════════════════════════════════════════

                                                        OOC:
                                                        Addaellis

                                                        But I see the deceit in your eyes
                                                        You could never fool me with your lies
                                                        So please, can’t you see you’re losing me
                                                        Your joking ‘round, I can’t take the sound, as tears they drown my eyes now
 


Trickblues



addaellis

PostPosted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 12:50 am

User Image🦜🎹
AURAIS FLINT AURELIUS

third year || Ravenclaw || pureblood
Language club mute || Fencing club whack
occasional attendee of Music Club and Order of the Stick

_______________

Their third groupmate, Kisa Nova, seemed extraordinarily preoccupied with examining the notes, going so far as to try to cast lighting and revealing charms in an attempt to get it to reveal more secrets. Aurais left her to it, turning to Lucian.

After jotting down flying seahorses in their notes, he drew another column for possible thoughts of the crispy black bug and offered it for Lucian to inspect, marking off the cricket as Luci decided it was not.

Cricket Blowflies? Dragonflies?” he jotted, recalling any possible bug part they encountered in potions. ”Doesn’t look like a spider or beetle part.”

He picked up a metal stirring rod and gently prodded the potion. The muck cracked a bit, but nothing in particular seemed to happen. It seemed like paste all the way through. He offered the stick to Lucian for experimentation as he jotted down the initial observations above their ingredient guesses:

Potion is burnt. Black paste, slightly stiffened. (from cooling?).
Smells burnt. No particular sounds from poking (may already be cooled)”


Aurais knew Luci knew some sign language from their conversations last semester, but he wasn’t sure how much Luci actually knew or even if the winter break had eaten at some of what he knew before. ”Do you notice anything else?”

Astyth, perching obediently on a stool, chirped a translation anyways: ”Anything else?”

”Is it just these three ingredients?”

This one took another moment before Astyth decided: ”Only three? Three piece?”

_______________

setting Potions, first day back January 2059 || with Lucian and Kisa Nova (NPC)
appearance 5’1”, spindly || wearing uniform
status I love puzzles.
Astyth status I'm such a clever bird

_______________
//OOC: ----
Trickblues


_______________


User ImageUser ImageUser Image
And I slept on the ocean last night
I could see you all, and you all were dancing sideways
Your feet stuck to the skies
And I could see the airplanes dance behind your eyes
And I was glad I found the time
🎹🦜
"Along the Road" by Radical Face.
 
PostPosted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 1:12 pm
User Image
You’re looking straight into the clouds now
And smiling at the rain that falls
You turn to me and whisper that the storm will wash away all of the pain

User Image

Halfblood | Metamorphmagus | Third Year Slytherin | Fourteen Years Old
Culinary Club | Fite Club
January 2059, first day back Potions With: Aurais and [Third Groupmate]
Wearing: School Robes Status: Making progress

═══════════════════XXXX═══════════════════


                                                        "I think that's about it for the ingredients, yeah. Just the three, unless Kisa finds a secret fourth." If there was an extra ingredient they were missing, he was sure Kisa would find it. After all, she seemed completely engrossed in finding anything they could have potentially missed. 'A dedicated sleuth, I'll give her that.'

                                                        Lucian leaned over to see the notes where Aurais was guessing their mystery insect's identity. Judging from the size, a blowfly or a dragonfly might be it. "Hold on, I'll check." While he left Aurais to poke at the black slop, he grabbed his textbook and began flipping through the pages. "No... Not that.... Oh!" He held the thorax up to a photo of a dragonfly. Sure enough, the shape lined up. "It's definitely a dragonfly," he nodded, sure of his answer. "The thorax, looks like."

                                                        Aurais made some further notes about the condition of their failed experiment, theorizing it's already cooled. Lucian wanted to stick a finger in to test himself—it wasn't like anyone was going to be drinking it anyway—but he thought better of it. This wasn't culinary club; for all they knew it might be radioactive waste, and what would that do to someone that can already mutate their body at will? A perma-mutation? Lucian shuddered at the thought. 'No thank you.'

                                                        They had two of the three ingredients sorted, but what of the last? Luci picked up one of the black beans and rolled it between his fingers. It looked like a black jelly bean, and there was yet again a part of Luci that wanted to test the theory... But again, this wasn't culinary club. Briefly, he wondered if Galen ever thought to try the potions ingredients. With a sigh, he offered it to Aurais to inspect. "Unless an every flavor bean is the cause of this mess, I haven't a clue." He paused just a moment before he spoke next, remembering he'd practiced the signs for what he was about to say. He moved his hands in the two simple movements as he asked with a small smile, "What do you think?"


                                                        ════════════════════════════════════════════════

                                                        OOC:
                                                        Addaellis

                                                        But I see the deceit in your eyes
                                                        You could never fool me with your lies
                                                        So please, can’t you see you’re losing me
                                                        Your joking ‘round, I can’t take the sound, as tears they drown my eyes now
 


Trickblues



addaellis

PostPosted: Mon Apr 03, 2023 1:36 am

User Image🦜🎹
AURAIS FLINT AURELIUS

third year || Ravenclaw || pureblood
Language club mute || Fencing club whack
occasional attendee of Music Club and Order of the Stick

_______________

Dragonfly Thorax. Aurais noted, crossing out the other suggestions. In the last column, he jotted down black Bertie’s bean? with a small shake–a laugh. Below, he jotted the idea: ”Possible mess-ups: The potioneer added a Bertie Bott’s bean which reacted badly with the potion.”

Lucian asked what he thought about the mess–”Hey, you signed it! Nice!”--and in response, Aurais stared at the scene. It looked like he was zoning out, especially with his emotionless expression, but anyone that had hung out around him during these kinds of puzzles knew he was trying to put something together. He signed a few thoughts over tentatively. ”It’s an awful mess for so few ingredients. Given the mess and the burnt smell, I’d say we’ve got overheating or an ingredient that causes a burning reaction. Or explosive reaction.” He paused, and after a moment Astyth decided to just translate it as simply:

”Potion messy, Potion burnt! Boom! Squawk!” Astyth added with a flap of her wings–the flap flipped a few beans over to Kisa, who hissed and flicked the bean back at her.

Aurais sighed, a soft sound through his nose. He wanted to continue poking the potion, but it seemed futile if he wouldn’t be able to convey his thinking to his groupmates. And while he appreciated Luci’s attempt, he didn’t want to put his friend out more than needed. Instead, he pointed towards Luci’s book with another idea. ”I think there are only a few potions that use preserved flying seahorses. Let’s check the book?” He got Astyth’s attention with a gesture to clarify, not expecting his friend to have gotten that: ”2 words: Fly + Sea + hoarse. Check the book. Question.”

”2 words: Fly! Sea! Hoarse! Check the book question!” she bobbed her head, turning around. ”Luci Fly Seahorse?”

_______________

setting Potions, first day back January 2059 || with Lucian and Kisa Nova (NPC)
appearance 5’1”, spindly || wearing uniform
status What can we make of this?
Astyth status I'm such a clever bird

_______________
//OOC: Please forgive my boy, he may require more nudging to notice the lengths Luci has gone to sweatdrop
Trickblues


_______________


User ImageUser ImageUser Image
And I slept on the ocean last night
I could see you all, and you all were dancing sideways
Your feet stuck to the skies
And I could see the airplanes dance behind your eyes
And I was glad I found the time
🎹🦜
"Along the Road" by Radical Face.
 
PostPosted: Mon Apr 03, 2023 5:35 am
User Image
You’re looking straight into the clouds now
And smiling at the rain that falls
You turn to me and whisper that the storm will wash away all of the pain

User Image

Halfblood | Metamorphmagus | Third Year Slytherin | Fourteen Years Old
Culinary Club | Fite Club
January 2059, first day back Potions With: Aurais and Kisa
Wearing: School Robes Status: Making progress

═══════════════════XXXX═══════════════════


                                                        So the Bertie Bott's theory may have sounded even sillier on paper, but that was fine. Potions was never Lucian's best subject, but when it came to group projects like these, it helped him to think more creatively. And truthfully? Knowing Professor Winchester, it was entirely possible this theory was correct. Unlikely, yes, but possible!

                                                        Lucian hadn't expected to impress Aurais with a simple phrase, but it did boost his confidence to know he wasn't accidentally signing nonsense at him. He was even able to understand what he said back to him! Further explanation was harder to make sense of, but with Astyth's help, he got the gist of it and caught that they were likely missing an ingredient, to which Luci nodded in agreement. Chuckling at Kisa's reaction to Astyth, he turned his attention back towards his book and began the hunt for any mention of flying seahorses. After a short while, he came to the conclusion there were two. "Okay. So it's either... The Girding Potion, or Dragon Dung Fertilizer. Both of them have dragonfly thorax and flying seahorses." He signed again as he spoke, making use of the signs he'd just picked up on for the ingredients. For the potions themselves and more specific words he hadn't learned yet, he supplemented what knowledge he lacked by spelling them out. Though he lagged just slightly as he focused on his accuracy, the alphabet, at least, Lucian could sign with fluent speed.

                                                        Both of the potions were meant to be green, though that clearly wasn't the case with theirs. Luci looked back between the two to find any hint of what the black beans might be. As if a lightbulb flashed over his head upon reading one of the ingredients, Lucian's hair briefly sparked into a shade of blue-green. He caught glimpse of the change from the tips of his bangs, and with a huff of annoyance as he blew his bangs from his eyes, willed it back to blue before he offered the book for his teammates to see. "If these are doxy eggs, then I think we've got a Girding Potion on our hands. It looks like we're missing the... Fairy wings, though, unless they were all added into the sludge."


                                                        ════════════════════════════════════════════════

                                                        OOC:
                                                        Addaellis

                                                        But I see the deceit in your eyes
                                                        You could never fool me with your lies
                                                        So please, can’t you see you’re losing me
                                                        Your joking ‘round, I can’t take the sound, as tears they drown my eyes now
 


Trickblues



addaellis

PostPosted: Wed Apr 05, 2023 3:03 pm

User Image🦜🎹
AURAIS FLINT AURELIUS

third year || Ravenclaw || pureblood
Language club mute || Fencing club whack
occasional attendee of Music Club and Order of the Stick

_______________

Lucian seemed to understand his idea to check the book for flying seahorses, and given how quickly he was looking it up, Aurais decided he was better off poking the potion sludge again. He hit a lump and, convinced the entire thing wasn’t poisonous or about to explode if he continued poking, fished out the charred body of half a dragonfly thorax. Huh. He jotted the note down– A partially dissolved dragonfly thorax was discovered in the potion remains
not quite fully melted into the rest of the paste = recently added? Not toasted properly?


Luci spoke then, pointing out that it was either one of two potions, both which they had discussed at least. Both had dragonfly thoraxes and flying seahor–wait, what?

Aurais gestured that he didn’t need Astyth to translate. “Wait Luci, you understood that? You sign? When’d you get so good?” Despite the lack of a smile, the excitement was palpable in the way Aurais leaned forwards, and the tears that were forming in the corner of his eyes. Aurais got along fine for the most part. He could hear and understand other people just fine anyways, and between parrot and notepad, he could get a message across fine. But if someone could just read sign–they didn’t even have to do it themselves!--it opened up the conversational options so much more. He appreciated Valerius and Serafina so much already for learning to sign– his parents had tried, but they didn’t get it as much or as well. Someone else though–a stranger or…a friend, he’d never even thought….

”Thank you.”

Kisa broke their moment, rejoining them with a flop and explaining she had given the paper what for only to discover it was just a piece of parchment. Three ingredients were gathered, and ”For causes, you can probably write they were bad at potions because they just started and already messed it up.” She yawned, eyeing the beans as though she were just noticing them. ”Anyone hungry?”

Aurais turned away, using writing down Kisa’s observation as an excuse to tug one glove off and wipe the moisture from his eyes on a clean corner of cloth. Aurais might not have been able to smile, but his eyes were narrowed unconsciously in the closest approximation he had.

Meanwhile, Luci seemed to have made another breakthrough. ”Oh of course!” he remarked, not even worrying about not being understood. Ew doxies. Luci went on to describe how if this was a Girding potion, they were just missing fairy wings.He breathed deeply, smelling the smoke around. There were other smells, but this one in particular.. ”I mean, it smells burnt, but not nearly as bad as Dragon Dung. So let’s go with your theory.”

Aurais consulted the book next to Lucian. ”Fairy wings would have been the first step, so they should already be well dissolved…although don't fairy wings make the cauldron all sparkly? Nothing here is sparkly.”

Astyth, having heard the wonderful word hungry, was hopped over to Kisa, and now the two were gathering all the beans–the doxy eggs– into a pile. A temporary truce no doubt. The moment all the eggs were gathered, they’d be at each others throats again to eat them. It was fine. By the time they got to that point, it would be a simply movement to clear the eggs away and–”Luci! What if there were no fairy wings and that’s the problem? ”


_______________

setting Potions, first day back January 2059 || with Lucian and Kisa Nova (NPC)
appearance 5’1”, spindly || wearing uniform
status What can we make of this?
Astyth status I will eat the eggs!

_______________
//OOC: ----
Trickblues


_______________


User ImageUser ImageUser Image
And I slept on the ocean last night
I could see you all, and you all were dancing sideways
Your feet stuck to the skies
And I could see the airplanes dance behind your eyes
And I was glad I found the time
🎹🦜
"Along the Road" by Radical Face.
 
PostPosted: Sat Apr 22, 2023 10:27 am
User Image
You’re looking straight into the clouds now
And smiling at the rain that falls
You turn to me and whisper that the storm will wash away all of the pain

User Image

Halfblood | Metamorphmagus | Third Year Slytherin | Fourteen Years Old
Culinary Club | Fite Club
January 2059, first day back Potions With: Aurais and Kisa
Wearing: School Robes Status: All that practice was worth it.

═══════════════════XXXX═══════════════════


                                                        Lucian had learned early on that when it came to Aurais, he had to pay close attention if he wanted to get a read on how he was feeling. Initially it had been a challenge, but now that they had gotten to know each other over the last several months, it was getting easier. He was surprisingly expressive with his eyes. The surprise was evident, and though he didn't smile, Luci could see the spark of excitement as he signed at him without Astyth's translation assistance. The meta didn't understand it perfectly, the questions reading chopped to him: Luci, understand, "You Sign?", and when? It was enough to get the gist, and he signed back the best he could as he answered. "I understand a little! I've been practicing all break, because I want to be able to communicate with you the best I can, even if Astyth isn't around, or there's no paper... You're my friend, after all, and you deserve that. I can sign some simple sentences, and this explanation." He flushed a little, embarrassed to admit he'd been practicing this portion like mad until he had it memorized. "I've still got a lot to learn though, so I hope you don't mind that I'll be relying on you and Astyth to help me learn. I'm in your hands."

                                                        Thank You.

                                                        Gold eyes widened just slightly as he noticed the tears in the corners of his eyes. Lucian's hand twitched with the urge to reach out and wipe them away, to smile and tell him none of that now, but Kisa chose then to pipe in and Lucian decided against it. Instead he clutched the fabric of his school robes and snapped his attention to her as he willed away the fluttery feeling in his stomach trying to turn his hair pink. It nearly made it to lavender before Luci pushed the feeling back down, regaining control.

                                                        While Aurais and Lucian focused on their assignment, Astyth and Kisa seemed to be feeling peckish. It was only a matter of time before Luci would have to stop them from snacking on the doxy eggs they were busying themselves with piling up. Aurais seemed to make a breakthrough with the hypothesis that the absence of fairy wings was where the potion went horribly wrong. "I think you might be right! Had they started with fairy wings, it probably would have been fine." Luci agreed as he pushed up his sleeves, knowing what they would need to do next. "Only one way to find out, though: We're going to need to replicate it."


                                                        ════════════════════════════════════════════════

                                                        OOC:
                                                        Addaellis

                                                        But I see the deceit in your eyes
                                                        You could never fool me with your lies
                                                        So please, can’t you see you’re losing me
                                                        Your joking ‘round, I can’t take the sound, as tears they drown my eyes now
 


Trickblues



addaellis

PostPosted: Wed Jul 05, 2023 2:59 am

User Image✽❃
VERINE YSEULT WINCHESTER

59 years || Ravenclaw alumna || halfblood
Potioneer and Potions Professor
_______________

When the third years walked into Potions the first afternoon back from Winter Break, the large student tables were a mess. Scattered ingredients, partially burned notes, torn observations, and incomplete potions set a different scene at each table.

”Come in, come in! Please, put your bags in the cubbies and gather around. We have a special activity today.”

One winter break, Verine’s nephew August had been working on a short mystery story about a thief. August had at one point borrowed the living space coffee table to set the crime scene: he’d spent the entire day arranging the space, taking notes, adding clues, removing them, rearranging them. Verine had watched him curiously, and before the start of the semester had gotten his help setting up a few “accident scenes” of her own–now, it was almost a staple that the first class back from winter break was this Identification project.

At just past nine, Verine started to explain the activity set out before them. ”Good morning and welcome back! Over the last semester we’ve discussed quite a few potions, how their ingredients work together, and how to handle them safely,” she started. ”Let’s put this into a very practical test. Before you, you see different scenes of potions ‘accidents’. Today, you and your group will try to determine what happened in each of these scenes. What was the original potioneer trying to brew? What went wrong? What would it take to fix the potion?

“By the end of the block, you should know enough about the scene to clean it up safely. This involves neutralizing whatever is left in the cauldron, and sorting out any raw ingredients.”
Verine gestured to the equipment laid out on the demonstration table: vials, a few small clear bags, and a collection of simple common ingredients. ”You might want to run a few tests to determine what things are. When gathering samples please be very careful and remember all the safety guidelines!

”On Wednesday, you and your partner will discuss the questions and make the potion correctly! We’ll discuss your thought processes next week. I’ll want to see your observations and thought processes, and your group should be ready to present your findings in a brief 2-3 minute discussion.”
Verine glanced around for questions, making sure to clarify everything before setting them off: ”No more than three to a scene please!”

Verine herself made her way from table to table, quietly observing their efforts. Usually the first third hour was chaos as students examined their scenes. Then came the third of contemplation as they pondered the puzzle and flipped thorough notes and texts in search of a clue. Occasionally, an exclaimed “oh! What if…?!” Punctured their contemplation, followed by either frustrated discussion or ecstatic glee. By the time Verine called the last 10-15 minutes, one of the group would usually go into a frenzy of writing down all their notes and thoughts down while the other two did their best to clean the mess with whatever knowledge they had.

board

Investigate the scene!

You have four goals:
1. Determine what potion was being brewed.
2. How did the potioneer mess up? What would it take to fix the potion?
3. Safely neutralize and dispose of all potions by the end of class Monday.
4. Brew the potion correctly.

Each group should submit the following by the following Monday:

  • An organized paper with your observations, what steps you took, your disposal process, and your thought processes for identifying and fixing the solution.
    (Please remember to include the Scene number and name all group members on the paper)
  • The correctly brewed potion (Wednesday)
  • Be ready to present and discuss your potion and scenario on Monday!


Possible potions:

  • Babbling Beverage
  • Boils Cure
  • Forgetfulness Potion
  • Girding Potion
  • Hair Raising Potion
  • Swelling Solution
  • Wiggenweld Potion
  • Volumbilis Potion




SCENE 1

The scene contains a disarray of materials and burnt notes. There are two model cauldrons, one overturned over a sopping mess of water and mushy slugs, and the other one half melted through, with green sludge pouring out of it. A pile of crushed materials sits in a mortar, along with a pile of dried leaves and a bottle of slightly green slime.

From the scraps of burnt notes, you can make out that the last successfully completed steps were waving the wand, and adding four measures of h̷̶̘̘̬ͭ̏͞͡o҉̢̡̲͇̌͗̀͢͝r҉̵҉̛̠̩̥̋ͦ̆͆͟͞͡͞͠n̸͐̈́͟͟͝e̵̡̫̫͍͕̎ͭ̐͟͟͝͞d҉̴̷̧̢̛̖͔̤ͯ̔̑̄͢͟͡͠ s҉̝̭̦͚̑ͯ̌͡l̶҉̰͚͖͕̍̈́̅͗̏̇͢͜͜͝u̶͖̖͆̊̈́͡͡g̷̵̸̡̼̱͎͎̞ͤͬ̅͢͟͞s҉̝̭̦͚̑ͯ̌͡”. An attentive student or in either potions or herbology could identify that the dried leaves are dried nettles and someone familiar with magical creatures could guess that the green slime is flobberworm mucus.



SCENE 2

The scene seems fairly innocent: the primary cauldron is intact, and the potion is clear and odorless. There is a lump of something squishy at the bottom of the potion. A second cauldron contains stewed slugs. There are a few leaves with a strong minty smell left in a bowl and an overturned pot. An empty vial smelling vaguely of honey is next to an unopened vial of milky blue syrup with “CAUTION, DO NOT CONSUME RAW” on it.

The notes are simply a list of colors, some marked off:

  • red
  • green
  • pink
  • orange
  • green
  • blue
  • pink
  • orange
  • turquoise
  • red
  • yellow


Upon closer inspection, while the potion on the inside of the potion is clear and odorless, the splashes and stains around the cauldron are pink and smell vaguely of mint and honey, indicating mint leaves and honey water, clearly. An attentive student or someone very familiar with herbology and ingredients extracted from herbs could recognize that the blue syrup is Syrup of Hellebore and the overturned pot used to house a mandrake. If the students fish out the lump in the cauldron, they will find an immature mandrake that clearly has not been processed (stewed, cut up) in any way. After some deduction, the students can reason that the addition of this last ingredient [/white] caused the potion to go wrong.


SCENE 3

The scene has a single model cauldron with a singed-smelling, hardened black paste inside it. Small beans litter the station and lightly toasted insect bodies are scattered around. The only ingredient that seems to be organized is an unopened jar.

Under the mess, the only discernible notes seem to indicate that the potion was only just started and there were only three ingredients gathered. Closer examination of the paste in the cauldron indicates that there is a toasted dragonfly thorax that was thrown in before the potion went horridly awry.

An attentive student or someone familiar with magical creatures would be able to identify the “beans” are doxy eggs and the insect bodies are dragonfly thoraxes, both toasted and untoasted. Careful observation of the contents of the unopened jar shows that they are preserved flying seahorses.


SCENE 4

The scene is relatively unmessy, as it seems everything has been added to the cauldron: the model cauldron is nearly full of a goopy red liquid that smells rusty and metallic. Someone who pokes the mush with a stick or shifts the cauldron might notice that the potion seems stuck to the walls of the cauldron in burnt clumps.

Brown splatters, clear-green splatters, clear-yellow stains, and black splotches make a mess of the notes. The materials used in the potion are intact but scrawled and smeared in messy handwriting:

  • s҉̝̭̦͚̑ͯ̌͡a҉͖̟̜̞̂̃̑̽͢͢͠͡l̶҉̰͚͖͕̍̈́̅͗̏̇͢͜͜͝a҉͖̟̜̞̂̃̑̽͢͢͠͡m̴̵҉̸̲̗̰̼͗͌̃̇͟͟͟͠͞͠a҉͖̟̜̞̂̃̑̽͢͢͠͡n̸͐̈́͟͟͝d҉̴̷̧̢̛̖͔̤ͯ̔̑̄͢͟͡͠e̵̡̫̫͍͕̎ͭ̐͟͟͝͞r҉̵҉̛̠̩̥̋ͦ̆͆͟͞͡͞͠ b҉͙̺̻̥̅̎͋̕͜͝͡͞͠l̶҉̰͚͖͕̍̈́̅͗̏̇͢͜͜͝o҉̢̡̲͇̌͗̀͢͝o҉̢̡̲͇̌͗̀͢͝d҉̴̷̧̢̛̖͔̤ͯ̔̑̄͢͟͡͠
  • l̶҉̰͚͖͕̍̈́̅͗̏̇͢͜͜͝i҉̧̯̤̙͔̑ͧ̅̔ͦ́͜͟͢͝͠o҉̢̡̲͇̌͗̀͢͝n̸͐̈́͟͟͝f҉̴̥͎̰̰̒͌͛͐ͧ̕͜͝͡͞i҉̧̯̤̙͔̑ͧ̅̔ͦ́͜͟͢͝͠s҉̝̭̦͚̑ͯ̌͡h̷̶̘̘̬ͭ̏͞͡ s҉̝̭̦͚̑ͯ̌͡p̷̸̷̨͙͙͇ͨ̌ͣ͋͟͢͠i҉̧̯̤̙͔̑ͧ̅̔ͦ́͜͟͢͝͠n̸͐̈́͟͟͝e̵̡̫̫͍͕̎ͭ̐͟͟͝͞s҉̝̭̦̑ͯ̌͡
  • f҉̴̥͎̰̰̒͌͛͐ͧ̕͜͝͡͞l̶҉̰͚͖͕̍̈́̅͗̏̇͢͜͜͝o҉̢̡̲͇̌͗̀͢͝b҉͙̺̻̥̅̎͋̕͜͝͡͞͠b҉͙̺̻̥̅̎͋̕͜͝͡͞͠e̵̡̫̫͍͕̎ͭ̐͟͟͝͞r҉̵҉̛̠̩̥̋ͦ̆͆͟͞͡͞͠w҉̢̡̹̮͌̄ͦ͜͟͟͞͠͞o҉̢̡̲͇̌͗̀͢͝r҉̵҉̛̠̩̥̋ͦ̆͆͟͞͡͞͠m̴̵҉̸̲̗̰̼͗͌̃̇͟͟͟͠͞͠ m̴̵҉̸̲̗̰̼͗͌̃̇͟͟͟͠͞͠u̶͖̖͆̊̈́͡͡c̷̶҉̵̢͚̣̻̲̬͑̑͛͐̀͜͜͜͝͡͝͠u̶͖̖͆̊̈́͡͡s҉̝̭̦͚̑ͯ̌͡
  • h̷̶̘̘̬ͭ̏͞͡o҉̢̡̲͇̌͗̀͢͝n̸͐̈́͟͟͝e̵̡̫̫͍͕̎ͭ̐͟͟͝͞ȳ̸̵̩̜͔͍̔́͟͟͢͡w҉̢̡̹̮͌̄ͦ͜͟͟͞͠͞a҉͖̟̜̞̂̃̑̽͢͢͠͡t҉̷҉̢͖͔̹͛̌͊͘͜͢͠͡͡e̵̡̫̫͍͕̎ͭ̐͟͟͝͞r҉̵҉̛̠̩̥̋ͦ̆͆͟͞͡͞͠


Alternatively, a meticulous and attentive student might identify that the brown splatters and the metallic smell indicate blood. Given the smell, some kind of blood is one of the primary ingredients. The clear-green splatters are slime or mucus, likely flobberworm mucus; the clear-yellow stains smell vaguely of honey, likely honey water; and the black splotches are simply smeared ink. With some deduction and observation, it is clear overheating was likely the mistake.


_______________

setting Potions Classroom, First Wednesday back from Winter Break in January 2060 || with Third years
appearance 5'7", slender || wearing something from her closet
status Hopefully this is fun!

_______________
//OOC: Potions 3 for 2059 year is OPEN. I tried to pick all potions for which either the guild or fandom.wiki has a complete procedure. I'm happy to provide OOC clues if you're genuinely interested in solving these, or just give you the answer if you're just trying to write your character making a genius deduction.
”QUOTING”


_______________


User ImageUser ImageUser Image
I am the voice of the past that will always be
Filled with my sorrow and blood in my fields
I am the voice of the future, bring me your peace
Bring me your peace, and my wounds, they will heal
✽❃
"The Voice" by Celtic Woman
 
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